We caught up with Stephen Smalley, an incredibly successful competition fly tyer. Stephen will be representing Partridge of Redditch at Fly Tyers’ Row during the Spring Open Weekend and will be tying a selection of intricate patterns. If you’re looking to improve your fly tying, make sure you stop by for a chat and pick up a few insider tips.
Stephen has been fishing for over 30 years and, during that time, has represented England in various fly-tying competitions, become a successful member of the Ospreys competition team, and served as an ambassador for Vision Fly Fishing UK, Partridge of Redditch and Veniard.
From the workshop to the competition bench
In Stephen’s downtime, away from competitions and tours, you’ll find him in his workshop experimenting with different materials and methods. Practice makes perfect – and curiosity is often what separates great fly tyers from good ones.
Being part of the team also means Stephen has tied alongside other notable fly tyers at venues such as the British Fly Fair International, the Irish Fly Fair and, of course, our own Fly Tyers’ Row here at Glasgow Angling Centre Open Weekends.
The Pink Tag Bumble
One particular pattern you can expect to see Stephen tying at our Open Weekend is his Pink Tag Bumble — a bold, high-visibility fly that’s built to fish as well as it looks.
See it tied live: Come along to our Spring Open Weekend at Glasgow Angling Centre (March 6-8). You’ll be able to meet Stephen and the other guest Tyers on Fly Tyers’ Row and see this pattern tied in person.
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